Tulum Maya ruins tour for 5 year old? Advice for Cozumel

[Ladyhawke10]

Disney says this tour (6.5 to 7 hours) is best for children over 8, but offers it to children starting at age 5. I have a five year old, and have heard the ruins are a spectacular excursion. Has anyone brought a child under 8 to the ruins, and would you recommend it or not? Any other comments on the Tulum tour in Cozumel in general? Thanks so much . I was also thinking of trying out the San Gervasio ruins/ beach tour if the Tulum was too difficult for my 5 year old.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

Our kids were 10 & 13, but it is a very long trip. There is a one hour small boat ride to the mainland, followed by a six block walk to the buses. THen a one hour bus ride to the site. The ruins are very nice and there is a beach that you can use for about 1 hour before starting the return trip. It is a great experience, providing your child does not mind the long trip there and back.

 

[cjsmith]

I personally wouldn't bring a 5 year old on this excursion. (My husband and I went on our own 2 years ago.) Not only is it a long trip there, but I don't think that the 5 year old would find the ruins that interesting. We had 5 kids in our party this past June, ages 10, 11, 13, 13, and 15 and we rented jeeps and took them on our own to San Gervasio. All 5 were bored very quickly. After that we went to Mr. Sanchos beach club and the kids had a ball. They loved the activities there and swimming. I would go back there or to another beach club with the kids next time we go. Mind you, this is my opinion, you'll probably hear from people who's young kids love it.

 

[minniemouse1]

I have also been on a tour to Tulum although not with disney. It is interesting and beautiful for adults but I think a 5 yo would be bored silly. It is also very hot with almost no shade (we went in April). We did find a little shade near the ocean behind a rock. This is just my opinion but I would not bring our 2 dd's there. There is also a long walk from the bus to the site on a dirt road near a small flea market if that is still there.

 

[Karel]

Originally posted by cjsmith
I . We had 5 kids in our party this past June, ages 10, 11, 13, 13, and 15 and we rented jeeps and took them on our own to San Gervasio. All 5 were bored very quickly. love it.

I would like to go to Tulum but I'm afraid it won't be worth the time and money (kids will be 10,12 and 13). OTH, if we travel all the way there, I would like to see something. Was San Gervasio worth it? I've read mixed reviews on what you actually see there.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We went in April with our DS's ages 12 & 6. We had a great time. The trip down is long - but we talked alot about what we were going to see ahead of time. My older DS had study about the ruins in school and we had a great tour guide.

My 6 year old's really liked the beach and swimming in the ocean - but he was pretty patient about walking through the ruins and listening.

The weather wasn't too hot while we were there but we did all get sun burned. As someone else mentioned - there is virtually no shade there.

 

[saturday97]

I took my 5 year old and would not recommend it. It was so hot and other than cooling off in the water, there's little shade. Had it been cooler, it may have been fun for him at the ruins themselves, but it was a long ferry ride that made all of us seasick, and an even longer bus ride. He was a trooper and is always so well behaved, but this was too much to ask of him.

 

[rsschneck]

We took DD age 5 at the time to the ruins. She was a trooper. She and I spent most of the time at the beach because of the heat and humidity. I would not take her again if I had to do it over again!

 

[webray]

Oh Yes, Mr. Sanchos is wonderful...for all ages.

 

[CruzNMom]

I would say a definite NO to a 5 year old on the Tulum trip. We had some kids on our tour and they were miserable. Kids being kids, they whined, cried, fussed, etc. and generally made everyone else miserable too.

I'm not a kid basher - we had our two ages 14 and 17 and they liked it. Both had studied the Mayan culture and both were very into science and mathematics so they understood the concepts the guide was explaining about how the windows line up for the seasons, etc.

The beach portion of the trip is only an hour or less so why subject your children (and everyone else) to 5 miserable hours for 1 hour on the beach. If you plan on skipping the tour and going straight to the beach, go somewhere else less expensive.

I would say no kids under 10 or 12.